Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-02-04
A STORY OF CHARITY.

Truly pitiful object was little Dan as
he sat flinching, half fainting in the bit
ing atmosphere. Yet but half the story
was told by his tattered garments. The
pinched and sunken features, the wistful
look of those blue eyes and the weary,
dropping attitude of that emaciated figure
needed no spoken language to explain
that hunger as well as cold had here an
unfortunate victim. The lad could not
have been much over 10 years of age; his
face was fair and clean, its expression de-
noting a manly disposition. For more
than an hour he sat there in front of the
store from which he had been so merci-
lessly driven forth, addressing every male
pedestrian with the short, businesslik
interrogation; "Black yer boots? Only
three cents" He received no responses,
not even so much as a brief negative.
Some men who strobe by in warm
"arctics'' looked down carelessly upon
the shivering little fellow and smiled at
the abslirdity of stopping in the streets to
have their boots BACKED on such a day.
Others wondered why the lazy little
urchn did not occupy his time in the
more sensible vocation of selling news
papers. and the proprietor of the store,
happening to look out of his window at
the hurrying throng, caught sight of the
ragged bootblack and wondered why the
police did not take care of such vaga-
bond. At last there came along one
young man more observing than the rest.
He saw that the poor boy was suffering
from cold and hunger and his heart was
touched. Stopping he said: "Well, little
chap, isn't this pretty cold work for
you?'
"Kind'r. sir" answered the boy, as
with an effort he dropped on his knees
and pushed forward his box. "Have
your boots blacked?'
mo, guess not" laughingly replied
the young man. 1T is little too cold
to stand out here"
"Black 'em quick, sir!' said the urchin,
looking appealingly up into the eyes of
his long-waitedfor customer.
"What is your name?" asked the gen.
tleman. paying no attention to the box,
which had been pushed close to his feet.
dan, sir.
How long have you been sitting here,
DAM"
Bout an hour
"Why don't you peddle newspapers?
No man wants to get his boots BACKED in
the streets such weather as this
please. sir hain't got no money to
buy papers. - replied the little fellow.
'Oh, that is the trouble, is it: What
would You do with 10 cents if l should
give it to you?' pleasantly inquired the
young man. AS he said this he drew off
one of his gloves, unbuttoncd his coat,
lol
Il would get something to eat, !"
answered Dan eagerly.
care you very hungry
Eyes. sir. but don t want nothing for
myself. My mother is sick, and there
ain nothin' in the house for her.
THAT is too bad" murmured the
gentleman sympathetically, as he fun
bled in his pockets for some change
there were only bills in his wallet. From
one pocket to another went his hands
little Dams eyes following each motion
with a hungry eXpectancy-until the
last pocket had been searched, and no
coins could be found "Well now,
am sorry, my little man"-and tone of
real regret gave emphasis to the words
'.but have nothing less than a S. bill. y
Little Dams eyes became misty, and
there was a suspicious culver about his
lips. But he was not chicken hearted
and was no beggar. The tears that
started were forced back, and the re-
bellious sob was choked down. With a
determined toss of the head he stood
erect and returned simple "thank you,
sir. to the young man s parting words.
"Am sorry, Dan, but may see you to-
morrow"
For a few moments longer little Dan
fingered in the street, vainly appealing
to the passers by for employment. But
he received nothing but rebuffs anG
harsh words. Two ladies, attracted by his
odd appearance paused to ask him why
he did not go home. Il want to carr
some money first he replied; my
mother is sick The ladies exchanged
significant chances. TOO bad sale
one to the other as they walked away
"that children SO young should be laugh
the tricks of professional beggars. Soor
policeman touched the half frozen boy
ON the shoulder and babe him ''mov,
on and in obedience to the stern man
date little Dan picked up his box ant
YEARLY trudged away
II.
starvation Hospital!' the place wa
usually called. 1t was one of those dilapi
dated and neglected frame tenement
which swarm with human beings YER
much as a wharf hole swarms with rats
The building had been erected man
years before and used as planning mil
but when trade and business enterpris
departed from the neighborhood the oil
structure was hastily altered into chea
lodging house. After awhile the plac
was neglected by its owner and permitte
to go to decay, and each year it sun
lower in the grade of human habitation:
None but the most destitute could be il
duced to live there, and yet its barrier
il-kept rooms We're always full.
In one Of the upper rooms, lighted onl
by small and broken window, and al
preached by a series of rickety stairway
and dark, vermin infested corridors.